Influence of the emetic reflex on vasopressin release in man

Kidney Int. 1979 Dec;16(6):729-35. doi: 10.1038/ki.1979.189.

Abstract

The mechanisms underlying the frequent association of nausea and vomiting with elevations of plasma vasopressin(PAVP) were studied in man and rat. After oral water loads (N = 16), plasma osmolality fell in all human subjects and was associated with a decline in PAVP in 14 asymptomatic human subjects. In 2 human subjects, nausea occurred and was associated with increases in PAVP, without changes in blood pressure. During ethanol infusion (N = 28), PAVP was suppressed unless nausea supervened. In 4 nauseated human subjects, PAVP escaped from ethanol inhibition and rose to levels 10 times basal, despite the absence of hemodynamic changes. Apomorphine, a potent dopamine agonist and emetic agent, was administered to human volunteers in doses of 7 to 24 microgram/kg. There was no increase in PAVP in 3 human subjects who remained asymptomatic (7 to 16 microgram/kg). Ten human subjects experienced nausea after 16 microgram/kg, which was followed shortly by marked increases in PAVP. Emesis occurred in 5 human subjects given 16 to 24 microgram/kg, and was followed by PAVP levels similar to those seen with nausea alone. In 7 human subjects from the nausea group, the repeat study (16 microgram/kg) after pretreatment with dopamine antagonist (haloperidol, N = 4; fluphenazine, N = 3) resulted in complete blockage of apomorphine-induced AVP release. In rats, which lack an emetic reflex, apomorphine doses of 200 microgram/kg induced only slight increases in PAVP when compared to the response to 16 microgram/kg in man. These studies indicate that stimulation of the emetic reflex results in AVP-release in man. Nausea-mediated AVP release supervenes over concomitant osmolar or pharmacologic (ethanol) inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alcohols
  • Animals
  • Apomorphine / pharmacology
  • Blood Pressure
  • Diuresis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nausea / chemically induced
  • Rats
  • Vasopressins / metabolism*
  • Vomiting / chemically induced
  • Vomiting / metabolism*
  • Water

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Water
  • Vasopressins
  • Apomorphine